Anonymous, which was released in UK cinemas on Friday, is a political thriller advancing the theory that it was in fact Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford who penned Shakespeare's plays.
In it Joely plays Queen Elizabeth I, the “Virgin Queen” who in this movie isn’t quite so virginal...
When asked about it, Joely laughed and told Grant: “I never believed the Virgin Queen thing, I’m sorry.
“I always felt that was propaganda, because she was single and unmarried and childless – so they say – but I never believed it.”
Agreeing that it would have helped the Queen’s image as fierce and fiery, Joely added: “Because I play Catherine Parr in The Tudors, I’ve known that after Henry died Catherine Parr had loved Thomas Seymour, and Thomas Seymour had had a thing with Elizabeth.
“So I’ve known this for a while. I think she had many lovers, she was a red-blooded woman.
“She had to find some comfort there, getting through that reign alone, but she was amazing to play.”
The actress also discussed her joy at playing the younger Queen while her mum Vanessa Redgrave played the older version – and revealed that she’s open to the idea that it wasn’t actually Shakespeare who wrote the plays. Watch the video to find out more...
